Speed business transactions, start to finish, with electronic signatures from Adobe Sign. It’s the easiest way to automate document workflows — on the web, on the phone, or inside your favorite application.

Get documents signed in minutes, not days.

With Adobe Sign, you can prepare and send a document to be e-signed in a few quick clicks. Sign and return on any device in minutes. And track each step from beginning to end.

Get signatures and get paid at the same time.

We’ve partnered with payment gateway leader Braintree, a PayPal service. Now you can combine signing and paying in a single all-digital experience. Collect fees, information, and signatures at the same time. And make it quick and easy for customers to complete transactions in one pass, on any device. Perfect for invoices, order forms, donations, and so much more.

Adobe Sign electronic signature FAQ

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature, or e-signature, is a legal way to get consent or approval on electronic documents or forms. One of the most relied upon definitions of an electronic signature defines an electronic signature as: "an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record...adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record." Electronic signatures can be used to replace handwritten signatures in virtually every personal or business process. Examples include contracts, application forms, new hire onboarding forms, non-disclosure agreements, vendor onboarding and RFPs, change authorizations, and government benefits enrollment forms.

Are Adobe Sign’s electronic signatures legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid and enforceable in nearly every industrialized country around the world, and even less-developed countries are beginning to enact e-signature laws. In 2000, the United States passed the ESIGN Act, making e-signatures legal for virtually all uses. In the European Union the Electronic Identification and Trust Services Regulation (eIDAS) took effect in July 2016. Other countries have enacted similar laws as well. To learn more, visit our Electronic Signatures are Legal page.

Are Adobe Sign's electronic signatures secure?

Yes. Adobe takes the security of your digital signing experiences very seriously. Adobe Sign is certified compliant with the world’s most rigorous security standards, ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, and PCI DSS used in the payment card industry. It complies with a wide range of privacy regulations, including HIPAA, GLBA, and FERPA in the U.S.

Are digital signatures the same as electronic signatures?

Electronic signatures, or e-signatures, refer broadly to any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement or a record. The term digital signature is frequently used to refer to one specific type of electronic signature.

Typical e-signature solutions use common electronic authentication methods to verify signer identity, such as email, corporate IDs, or a phone PIN. Multifactor authentication is used when increased security is needed. The best e-signature solutions demonstrate proof of signing using a secure process that includes an audit trail along with the final document.

Digital signatures use a specific type of electronic signature. They use a certificate-based digital ID to authenticate signer identity and demonstrate proof of signing by binding each signature to the document with encryption — validation is done through trusted certificate authorities (CAs) or Trust Service Providers (TSPs).

How do I create an electronic signature?

With Adobe Sign, recipients can electronically sign documents by typing or drawing their name on their computer or mobile device, or uploading an image of their signature. They can also use more advanced digital signatures that rely on certificate-based digital IDs to provide stronger signer authentication.

What document formats does Adobe Sign support for e-signatures?

Adobe Sign lets you upload a wide range of documents types when you request signatures from others or build reusable templates. They include the following:

Adobe PDF (.pdf)

Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx)

Microsoft Excel (.xls and .xlsx)

Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt and .pptx)

WordPerfect (.wp)

Text (.txt)

Rich Text (.rtf)

Graphics (.tif, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .bmp, and .png)

Web (.htm or .html)

How do I get a document e-signed?

Simply upload the document you want to get signed. Enter your recipients’ email addresses. Drag and drop signature and form fields onto the page. Click Send and Adobe Sign will email signers a link to your document.

How do I e-sign a document?

With Adobe Sign, it’s always free and easy. No downloads or signups needed ever. Just click the email link to open the document on a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Tabs and simple instructions walk you through the process. When it’s time to sign, just enter your name in the signature box, upload an image of your signature, or sign using a mouse, finger, or stylus. Click Apply, Finish, then you’re done.

How does Adobe Sign charge users?

It is always free to sign documents using Adobe Sign. Adobe Sign does offer premium features like requesting signatures from others, custom branding, signer authentication, and more, and there are charges for these. See our plans and features to learn more.

Adobe online services are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms and the Adobe Privacy Policy. Online services are not available in all countries or languages, may require user registration, and may be discontinued or modified in whole or in part without notice. Additional fees or subscription charges may apply.

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